Update, nuts and more

The software I use to process my raw images, RawTherapee , broke on my desktop after a software update. But it's fixed now, and I can start updating again.

I have quite a smorgasbord of updates on deck. Let me start with last week.

I was running out of tea, and had to resort to buying black teabags at the local Safeway. I found a decent-looking box of 20 bags for $2.00 to tide me over. On the way out, I happened across a 1lb bottle of (unsalted, roasted) Planters peanuts for $2.50 and could not resist.

That brings me to nuts. I think nuts are a very important component of our diet. I love nuts (and we're not talking about the locals in San Francisco). My favorites are walnuts, peanuts and almonds. I eat a handful of almonds every day, religiously. And then snack on peanuts/walnuts all the time. My walnuts ($2.50/lb at the Alemany Market) had run out, so I grabbed the peanuts at Safeway. It's no surprise that I paid the same for peanuts at the Safeway as I do for walnuts at the local Farmers Market.  So that was $4.50 .

On Saturday, I went on a day-long hike at the Pinnacles National Monument, which has a series of funky volcanic columns and is a favorite nesting ground of the Californa Condor. Pics at my Flickr site.  But before we got there, I stopped by the Alemany market and picked up: 1lb of walnuts for $2.50 ; 1lb almonds for $5.00 ; and 1lb unwashed raisins for $2.00. A bit expensive, but one must eat well, even when one is on food stamps.... ;)

Sunday, I was plumb out of produce and bread. So I rushed over to my favorite Mexican grocery store, Mi Tierra on Mission St. There, I grabbed 1lb of broccoli ($0.95), 2lbs carrots ($1.00), 1 bunch coriander ($0.25), 2lbs tomatoes ($1.00), 2lbs onions ($1.00), 1 head cauliflower ($1.25), 1lb green peppers ($1.00), 2lb 'premium' potatoes ($2.00) and 1lb brussel sprouts ($1.00).  I also picked up a bag of 50 medium-sized corn tortillas for $1.99 . Total, about $13.00 .

Finally: on friday I had some potatoes and green peppers left over. What else to do with these than make stuffed bell peppers?

You'll need:

• 2-3 medium sized bell peppers. Cut off the bottoms, scrape the seeds and soft flesh out.
• 1lb potatoes, boiled and peeled
• 1tsp coriander seeds, lightly roasted
• 1tbsp cumin seeds, lightly roasted
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2-3 finely chopped green chillies
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• breadcrumbs
• juice of 1 lime
• salt to taste

1. Mash the potatoes and the spiced together.
2. Stuff the peppers with this mixture, filling them to the top.
3. Level off the stuff so that it's flat. Now, turn the peppers over and dip them in the crumbs
4. Turn on the oven and set it at 400.
5. In the meantime, heat a non-stick pan and apply some oil to it. Place the peppers stuffing-side down on this pan, and fry them for about a minute or so (till the stuffing cap is brown)
6. Now flip the peppers over (stuffing side is on top now) and put them on a baking sheet in the over, for 30-40 minutes.

OK, the stuffing above didn't come out as well as I had expected (i.e. not as well as mom used to make). I have to do more research into that. Maybe a call to mom will solve the quandry.

Tonight's a two-fer. As I had mentioned, I also bought brussel sprouts on Sunday. I find brussel sprouts fascinating, since we don't have them in India. A month ago I tried making a curry out of them, but ended up destroying them in the cooker. So yesterday I tried to go easy on them and cooked them by first steaming them, and then sauteeing with garlic and Indian spices. No deal. I have to work on a recipe for brussel sprouts that pleases the Indian palate. So far I've been striking out with them. More research is needed.

Here's a pic of the bell peppers, after stuffing and capping, but before the pan frying: